Treatment of fibrous material of vegetable and mineral origin



Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TREATMENT OF FIBBOUS MATERIAL F VEGETABLE AND MINERAL ORIGIN No Drawing. Application September 18, 1936, Serial No. 101,398

30 Claim This invention relates to a process of treating fibrous material of vegetable and mineral origin. including both natural fibres, and artificial fibres, to substantially eliminate fiying and the effects of static electricity in the processing of the fibres, and to prevent shedding after the treated fibres have been incorporated into a yarn. The yarn may be made up of mixed or unmixed treated fibres or of treated fibres in combination with untreated fibres of the same or diflerent kind. This application relates to co-pendlng application Serial Number 101,39'7 wherein the invention is described in its application to animal fibres. Animal fibres in a natural state are often greasy and 18 therefore some preliminary cleansing may be desirable before treatment in accordance with applicants invention. It will be noted that the same process for eliminating flying and the eilects of static electricity and to prevent shedding diszo closed in application Serial No. 101,397 is disclosed herein and generic claims covering the treatment of fibres generally are included in the present application.

Heretoiore, great difiiculty has been experienced in treating many short fibres, including both those of vegetable and mineral origin, due to "flying", and "shedding and the efiects of static electricity.

Static electricity causes them to be attracted so to or repelled from one another or from the machinery in which they are processed, depending upon the electric charge in the individual fibres, often causing the fibres to gather together in bunches, and rendering them extremely diillcult to process.

"Flying is the tendency of fibres, particularly light fibres, to scatter or fly out of the pickers or other machines in which the fibres are processed during themanufacture of the yarn. This results 44) not only in loss of the fibres, but also greatly interferes with the treatment of other materials because the fibres floating around in the atmosphere settle on other stock.

Bhedding" is the tendency of the fibres to 45 loosen and pull out of the yarn after it has been spun, or out of the fabric made up therefrom.

The term vegetable fibres" as used herein includes both natural vegetable fibrous material. such for example as kapok and milk-weed, and

so artificial fibres made from vegetable matter such for example as cellulose compounds.

The term mineral fibres as used herein includes both natural mineral fibre such for example as asbestos, and artificial fibre, such for example as rock wool.

In order to overcome the difjliculty in processing short fibres due to the effects of static electricity it has been customary to wet thefibres prior to introducing the fibres into the pickers or other machines for processing the fibres. This 6 practice is detrimental to the machinery due to the formation of rust, and the benefit obtained in lessening static is only temporary so that each batch of fibre must be wet just before being introduced into the machinery and the operation 10 must be repeated at frequent intervals unless the whole treatment can be completed in a short interval.

By my invention I am able to substantially eliminate the difilculties heretofore experienced due to static electricity, not only temporarily but permanently, so that the fibres may be stored and used at a later time without further treatment, or the processing operations may be stopped as often as desired and need not be hurried. The so fibres treated by my process are characterized by a substantial freedom from "flying" during processing, and from shedding provided the fibres are properly spun, and this is true regardless of whether the fibres are used soon after being treated, or are stored away and used at a much later time.

In carrying out my invention, I modify the form and character of the fibres by inducing kinks, curls or sharp bends in them, and further reducing their freedom of slip by endowing them with a friction increasing material, thereby changing their frictional and electrical properties and their weight, and causing them to more readily engage and remain interengaged with 35 other fibres, either of the same, or of a difierent kind. I prefer to modify the form of the fibres and deposit thereon an adherent material, in a single step. The form of the fibres may however be artificially modified by suitable means in one 4 step, and an adherent material deposited on the fibres in a separate step.

While for the purposes of a full disclosure 1 have set forth herein a specific way of carrying out my invention, the proportions of the ingre- 45 dients named, or their equivalents, may be considerably varied without departing from the scope of my invention which is defined in the claims appended hereto.

In carrying out my preferred treatment I immerse the fibres in a solution of sodium sulphocyanide, or other salt capable of modifying the form of the fibres, and an albuminate body in a alkaline medium, preferably a colloidal substance such as soap, which causes the fibres to be coated l5 and weighted, and modified in form by the development of kinks, curls, or sharp bends. I prefer to combine the sodium sulpho-cyanide and the albuminate body in the same bath as I have found that besides economy of time and effort the combined treatment results in a definitely improved quality of treated fibre. I find that the sulphocyanide increases the degree to which the fibre is impregnated by the adherent material, either by reason of its salting out effect on the alkalisericine which exists in true solution, or its usefulness as an electrolyte in limiting the dispersion of the sericine in the water or the soap solution and favorably changing its distribution between the liquid and the fibre phase.

As an example of an albuminate body which will give good results I will mention sericine as in "boiled ofi liquor", which contains a high percentage of sericine or silk gum and which is more available commercially than pure sericine. In solution sericine is attacked by soda or soap forming sodium-sericine which is readily combined with and depodted upon the fibres. Though I in no way limit myself to these percentages I have found that a solution comprising five parts of water to one part of fur stock, and up to 5% of the weight oi the fur stock of each of sodium sulpho-cyanide and actual sericine, or up to approximately 50% of "boiled of! liquor", de-

lihpending on the concentration which varies very widely in the commercial product, gives satisfactory results. The character of the particular fibre being treated may be such as to influence somewhat the percentage of ingredients used. For example, if the fibre is unusually still a larger percent of sulpho-cyanide than would otherwise be used may be found desirable.

While not essential I have found it is desirable to treat the fibres in the said solution for a period of approximately one half hour and to raise the temperature of the bath to approximately the range of 170 to 200 1''. at the start of the bath. The temperature of the bath mly be allowed to cool slowly during the treatment. After removal from the bath the fibres may be 'dried in any suitable manner.

The boiled oi! liquor" contains a a ying D centage of soap in a colloidal state which modifies the degree to which the sericine is deposited from solution onto the fibres. Any suitable alkaline medium may be employed, with or in place of the soap, to facilitate the use of the adherent material.

The material deposited on, and/or in the fibres is also useful at a later time as a mordant facilitating the dyeing of the yarn.

After this treatment, the coated and weighted and artificially modified stock maybe stored and j wed as required, and may be readilyspun into a yarn with fibres of the same or a different kind. I have found that stock treated by my process is substantially free from fly and that yarn incorporating the product of my process may be made substantially free from shedding, using a lower twist than would otherwise be necessary.

While the step of lubricating the fibres forms no part of the present invention, if desired, the treated stock may be spread out and oil sprinkled, sprayed or otherwise distributed thereon. For this purpose approximately 1% of neutral oil, based on the weight of the fur stock, may be used. I have found however that when my proccos isusedthestepofsprinkling the stockwith oil may be ordinarily omitted.

When fibres having a slippery or glossy surface are being treated, such for example as kapok, a substance such for example as Irish moss may be added to the bath in which the fibres are treated to facilitate adherence of the sericine or sodiumsericine to the surface of the fibres. A very small proportion of Irish moss, in some cases only of 1% will give good results.

A setting agent such as formaldehyde may be used if desired, in cases where it will not injure the fibre for the use for which it is intended. When used a small amount may be added to the last bath.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details above described, but that it comprehends broadly the treatment of the fibres of the kind described herein to overcome "flying" and "shedding", and the effects of static electricity.

What I claim is:

l. The method of treating fibers to facilitate spinning them with fibers of the same or different kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of sulpho-cyanide and an adherent material.

2. The method of treating fibers of vegetable origin for spinning with fibers of the same or diiferent kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of sulpho-cyanide and an adherent material.

3. The method of treating fibers of vegetable origin for spinning with fibers of the same or different kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of sulpho-cyanide and sericine.

4. The method of treating fibers of vegetable origin for spinning with fibers of the same or difi'erent kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of sulpho-cyanide and alkali-sericine.

5. The method of treating fibers of vegetable origin for spinning with fibers of the same or different kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of up to 5% each of sulpho-cyanide and sericine based on the weight of the fibers being treated.

6. The method of treating fibers of mineral origin for spinning with fibers of the same or difierent kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of suipho-cyanide and an adherent material.

7. The method of treating fibers of mineral origin for spinning with fibers of the same or different kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of sulpho-cyanide and sericine.

.8. The method of treating fibers of mineral origin for spinning with fibers of the same or difierent kind, which comprises treating the fibers with a solution of sulpho-cyanide and alkali-sericine.

a different kind of an artificial deposit of sulphocyanide and an adherent material permanently appliedthereto.

11. The product having fibers rendered more readily spinnable with fibers of the same or of a different kind by a deposit of a salt and sericine permanently applied thereto.

success 12. The product having fibers oi vegetable origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and an adherent material.

13. The product having fibers of vegetable origin having a deposit of suipho-cyanide and sericine.

14. The product having fibers of vegetable origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and alkali-sericine.

15. The producthaving fibers of vegetable origin having a deposit of a salt and sericine.

16. A yarn having fibers of vegetable origin having a. coating deposited from a solution containing suipho-cyanide and an albuminate body in an alkaline medium.

17. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a deposit of suipho-cyanide and an adherent material.

18. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and sericine.

19. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and alkalisericine.

20. The gin having a deposit of a salt and sericine.

21. A yarn having fibers of mineral origin having a coating deposited from a solution containing sulpho-cyanide and an albuminate body in an alkaline medium.

22. The product having fibers of vegetable origin having a permanent coating of alkali seric ne.

quently spinning product having fibers of mineral ori- 23. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a permanent coating of alkali sericine.

24. The method of forming yarn which comprises depositing upon short fibers a permanent coating of sericine and subsequently spinning them.

25. The method of forming yarn which comprises depositing a permanent coating of sericine upon short fibers of vegetable origin and subsethem.

26. The method of forming yarn which comprises depositing a permanent coating of sericine upon short fibers of mineral origin and subsequently spinning them.

2'7. Spun yarn having short fibers rendered more readily spinnable with fibers of the same or of a different kind by an artificial deposit of sericine permanently applied thereto prior to spinmpg.

28. Spun yarn having short fibers coated with an artificial deposit of sericine applied prior to spinning.

29. Yarn spun with short dered more spinnable by a deposit thereon applied prior to spinning.

30. Yarn spun with short mineral fibers rendered more spinnable by a deposit 0! sericine thereon applied prior to spinning.

vegetable fibers renot sericine LEO FRENKEL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No 2.155, 225

April 18, 1959.

LEO FRENKEL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Pag 2, c n

column, line 69, claim 10, for the word "of" the said Letters Patent should be read with of the case in the same may conform to the cord.

after "kind" readby; and that this correction therein that the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25rd day of May, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

success 12. The product having fibers oi vegetable origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and an adherent material.

13. The product having fibers of vegetable origin having a deposit of suipho-cyanide and sericine.

14. The product having fibers of vegetable origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and alkali-sericine.

15. The producthaving fibers of vegetable origin having a deposit of a salt and sericine.

16. A yarn having fibers of vegetable origin having a. coating deposited from a solution containing suipho-cyanide and an albuminate body in an alkaline medium.

17. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a deposit of suipho-cyanide and an adherent material.

18. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and sericine.

19. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a deposit of sulpho-cyanide and alkalisericine.

20. The gin having a deposit of a salt and sericine.

21. A yarn having fibers of mineral origin having a coating deposited from a solution containing sulpho-cyanide and an albuminate body in an alkaline medium.

22. The product having fibers of vegetable origin having a permanent coating of alkali seric ne.

quently spinning product having fibers of mineral ori- 23. The product having fibers of mineral origin having a permanent coating of alkali sericine.

24. The method of forming yarn which comprises depositing upon short fibers a permanent coating of sericine and subsequently spinning them.

25. The method of forming yarn which comprises depositing a permanent coating of sericine upon short fibers of vegetable origin and subsethem.

26. The method of forming yarn which comprises depositing a permanent coating of sericine upon short fibers of mineral origin and subsequently spinning them.

2'7. Spun yarn having short fibers rendered more readily spinnable with fibers of the same or of a different kind by an artificial deposit of sericine permanently applied thereto prior to spinmpg.

28. Spun yarn having short fibers coated with an artificial deposit of sericine applied prior to spinning.

29. Yarn spun with short dered more spinnable by a deposit thereon applied prior to spinning.

30. Yarn spun with short mineral fibers rendered more spinnable by a deposit 0! sericine thereon applied prior to spinning.

vegetable fibers renot sericine LEO FRENKEL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No 2.155, 225

April 18, 1959.

LEO FRENKEL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Pag 2, c n

column, line 69, claim 10, for the word "of" the said Letters Patent should be read with of the case in the same may conform to the cord.

after "kind" readby; and that this correction therein that the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25rd day of May, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

